Police investigating counterfeit $50 bills passed at Target, Meijer

Police are investigating two incidents of passed counterfeit bills Wednesday night at area stores.

Jackson police were called to the Target store at Jackson Crossing about 7:45 p.m. after a cashier noticed a man trying to buy $700 worth of electronics using counterfeit $50 bills at a register in the electronics department, said Lt. Elmer Hitt. Before police could arrive, the man fled the store with the money.

The suspect was described as a black male wearing a black cap, red shirt with a black coat and blue jeans, Hitt said. Target is working to provide surveillance video to the police.

On Thursday, Target store management noticed that it received $900 in counterfeit bills at a register in the front of the store around the same time, Hitt said.

A few hours later, officers with the Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety say Meijer, 2777 Airport Road, in Blackman Township received $950 in fake $50 bills. Hitt said police believe the same person is responsible in this case, too.